Device for quadrilaterally articulated invisible hinge,adapted to automatically shut a door or a flap and the like

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR QUADRILATERALLY ARTICULATED INVISIBLE HINGE, ADAPTED TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT A DOOR OR FLAP AND THE LIKE WITHOUT THE AID OF ANY OTHER MEMBERS, COMPRISING A SPRING MEMBER SECURED TO THE FIXED ELEMENT OF THE HINGE AND AT LEAST ONE CAM ON WHICH SAID SPRING MEMBER OPERATES, SAID CAM BEING FAST WITH ONE OF THE MOVING ELEMENTS FORMING THE ARTICULATED QUADRILATERAL INCORPORATED IN SAID HINGE, SAID SPRING MEMBER COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CYLINDRICAL HELICAL SPRING.

Feb. 23, 1971 I L. SALICE v I 3,564,643

DEVICE FOR QUARDRILATERALLY ARTICULATED INVISIBLE HINGE. ADAPTED TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT A DOOR OR A FLAP ANDZITHE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Luciano Sal/ca ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,564,643 DEVICE FOR QUADRILATERALLY ARTICULATED INVISIBLE HINGE, ADAPTED TO AUTOMATI- iCigJFIX SHUT A DOOR 0R A FLAP AND THE Luciano Salice, Cantu, Italy, assignor to Arturo Salice S.p.A., Milan, Italy Filed Jan. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 793,797 Claims priority, application Italy, Jan. 26, 1968, 12,040/68 Int. Cl. EOSd 3/06 U.S. Cl. 16163 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for quadrilaterally articulated invisible hinge, adapted to automatically shut a door or flap and the like without the aid of any other members, comprising a spring member secured to the fixed element of the hinge and at least one cam on which said spring member operates, said cam being fast with one of the moving elements forming the articulated quadrilateral incorporated in said hinge, said spring member comprising at least one cylindrical helical spring.

The present invention relates to a device comprising a quadrilaterally articulated invisible hinge for doors or flaps and the like, particularly furniture doors, incorporating a mechanism for locking the door or flap and the like at a closed position without any aid of further members.

Particularly, the present device affords free rotation of the moving hinge element along with the door, as being fast therewith, throughout the arc of rotation thereof, except a short final length, where spring members operate to urge said moving element to closed position retaining it thereat. Said mechanism comprises a spring member, attached to the fixed element of the hinge, and at least one cam, on which said spring member operates, this cam being fast with one of the moving elements forming the articulated quadrilateral, particularly the innermost element of the two equalizers, which is one of the rocking rods for the articulated system of the hinge, said re- 4 silient member comprising one or more cylindrical helical springs.

The purpose of using helical springs, in the embodiments to be set forth in the following, is to take advantage of the higher utilization coefiicient, i.e. the larger spring reactions being provided under the same weight by such helical springs over the heretofore used fiexure springs.

A further desirably attained object is the possibility of adjusting the spring strength even when the hinge has been installed. This is useful for proportioning the spring reaction to the door inertia as articulated by the hinge.

In a first aspect of the present invention the resilient or spring member comprises a cylindrical helical spring operating through a small ball on the cam, thereby providing the following advantages:

(a) greater simplicity in resilient or spring member manufacturing and assembling;

(b) absence of sliding friction between the elements moving by contacting one another, as urged by action or reaction force of the spring member, resulting in reduction of lost work, wear between the parts or elements, and noises, the friction being essentially a rolling friction.

In accordance with a further modified form Within the object of the present invention, the spring member is provided as comprising one or more cylindrical helical springs, each of which being guided on a suitable stem and Patented Feb. 23, 1971 operating on a driven roller coupled with a cam fast with one of the equalizers forming one of the sides for the articulated quadrilateral of the hinge. In this case, the following advantages are provided:

(a) separation of the two main functions, namely those of storing or giving back some amount of spring potential energy and driving the roller, with a better particular efiiciency for each function;

(b) possibility of pre-assembling the rocking support, completed with roller and possible antifriction bearings.

The accompanying drawing schematically shows by way of non-restrictive example two embodiments of the hinge incorporating, respectively, the improvement according to the present invention, as well as several structural details.

More particularly, the several figures of the drawing show:

FIG. 1 a partial section of an articulated hinge, incorporating a first spring device according to the present invention, at its open position;

FIG. 2 a partly elevational and partly sectional view of a cap forming part of the device;

FIG. 3 a partly elevational and partly sectional view of a cap, modified with respect to that in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a perspective view of a spring forming part of the device;

FIG. 5 a small ball forming part of the device;

FIG. 6 a vertical section of a spring assembly forming part of the device, the cap of which being modified with respect to that in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 7 a perspective view of a cam provided equalizer;

FIG. 8 a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the hinge at a closed position;

FIG. 9 the longitudinal section of an articulated hinge, incorporating a second device according to the present invention, at its open position;

FIG. 10 a perspective view of a cylindrical helical spring forming part of the device;

FIG. 11 a perspective view of a guide stem for the spring in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 a perspective view of two guide stems according to FIG. 11, as coupled to each other;

FIG. 13 an exploded perspective View of a rocking sup port forming part of the device, with the two pins and roller associated therewith;

FIG. 14 a perspective view of a rocking support as modified with respect to that in FIG. 13;

FIGS. 15 and 16 two exploded perspective views for alternative structural details;

FIG. 17 a view similar to that of FIG. 9, but showing the hinge at a closed position; and

FIG. 18 a sectional detail for spring adjustment.

The quadrilaterally articulated invisible hinges generally comprise a fixed hinge portion 19 and a moving portion 20, the former being secured to the fixed furniture portion 21, and the latter being made fast with the door or flap and the like to be closed or opened by the user. The two portions are connected and articulated as a. quadrilateral by two equalizer plates 23 and 24 respectively pivoted at 25 and 26 on fixed portion 19 and at 27 and 28 on the moving portion of the hinge.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-8, there is seen that according to a first embodiment according to the present invention, the spring member for the hinge device comprises a cylindrical helical spring, designated at 29 and seating within a cap 30 fast with the fixed portion 19 of the hinge and projecting therefrom. Within said cap most of a small ball 31 is acconnnodated, this small ball 31 being held by rivetting 32 on the lower opening of cap 30, so that under the action of spring 29 said small ball 3-1 only slightly projects from said rivetting.

Cap is provided with a retaining collar 30 for locking thereof with respect to said fixed element 19 of the hinge.

Cap 30 can be made by bar turning, die-casting or injection moulding. In accordance with a modified embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cap, carrying in this case a mark or reference 31, may be made by sheet drawing.

According to a structural modified form shown in FIG. 6, the cap here designated at 32, has the bottom thereof comprising a screw 33 allowing, even when the hinge has been installed, to adjust the reaction strength of spring 29, as desired, by compressing it through more or less screwing of screw 32 relative to the side walls of cap 32.

The operation of the hinge provided with the above-described device is as follows:

When the hinge is open (FIG. 1), spring 29 is compressed to the maximum extent, as small ball 31 bears on the highest contour of cam 24' fitted on equalizer 24. When commencing to close the hinge in the direction of arrow F, the equalizer 24 first rotates almost imperceptibly about its pivot 26, then at an increasing speed until, adjacent the closed position, said small ball 31 goes beyond the rim of cam 24' and releasingly approaches pivot 26, allowing a partial relieving of spring 29.

In this partial relieving movement, the spring returns a portion of the spring potential energy which, as set forth in the following, it had stored during the last closing preceding the opening being involved, imparting a moment to equalizer 24 which tends to close and to retain the hinge closed and hence the door or flap connected thereto.

The hinge being at a closed position (FIG. 8), when commencing an opening movement thereof in the direction of arrow F, equalizer 24 rotates about its pivot 26 in the direction bringing its cam 24' to press against said small ball 31 causing it to re-enter its cap 30, compressing spring 29, thus storing energy available for locking the door or flap at the end of a next closing movement.

In FIGS. 9-18, there is shown a different embodiment of the device.

The automatic locking assembly comprises a cylindrical helical spring 33 inserted on a guide stem 34, the latter being slidable within a hole 35 in the end wall of the fixed element 19 of the hinge, at its area facing the roller said stem 34 having an enlargement 34 serving as abutment for an end of spring 33 and at its end carrying a sag 36 for coupling with pin 37 of roller 38.

Instead of a single stem 34 and spring 33, the spring assembly (FIG. 12) may comprise two stems 34a on which two springs 33 are inserted. These stems are parallel to each other and provided similarly to the above with enlargements 34' with sags 36, said two stems being connected by bridge 39.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13', roller 38 is freely rotatable about its pin 37 fast with support 40 which is freely rockable about pin 41 fast with the fixed element 19 of the hinge. Said rocking support 40 has two symmetrical side walls provided with holes 42, through which said pin 41 passes, said support being capable of rocking about the latter, and holes 43 passed through by pin 37 of roller 38. Support 40 also has inclined sections 44 allowing for accommodating the head and riveting of pin 37, and bridge 45 connecting the above-mentioned two symmetrical side walls to each other.

FIG. 14 shows a modified form of support 40" with respect to support 40: therein, the two side walls are connected by a bridge 45' which is sidewise located relative to said side walls.

Hereinafter, reference will be made to support 40, it being however understood that the matter as set forth also applies for support 40'; thus, whatever its shape may be, support 40-40 always performs a guide function for the roller.

Referring to FIG. 15, there is shown a sleeve 46, preferably of antifriction material, adapted to be inserted between roller 47 and pin 37. In accordance with the modified form in FIG. 16, two identical bushes 48 also of antifriction material and provided at an end with a flange are adapted to be symmetrically inserted in roller 47 between the roller itself and pin 37.

It should be noted that, similarly as provided for rollers 38 and 47, sleeves or bushes of antifriction material can be applied to one or more of pivotings 25, 26, 27 and 28 forming the knots of the articulated quadrilateral incorporated in the hinge.

Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown a threaded bush 49 adapted to be screwed within a threaded hole 35' in the end wall of the fixed element 19' of the hinge. The end of spring 33 bears against this bush 49 and, accordingly, by more or less screwing down said bush, a more or less precompression and hence a more or less strength of said spring will be achieved.

It should be noted that the above adjustment can be effected also when the hinge has been installed.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows:

When the hinge is open (FIG. 9), spring 33 is compressed at a maximum extent, as roller 38 bears on the highest contour of the cam said equilizer 24 is provided with.

When the hinge begins to close, said equalizer 24 first rotates almost imperceptibly about its pin 26, then with increasing speed until, adjacent the closed position of the hinge, roller 38 commences to go beyond the rim of cam 24 and accordingly, as urged by spring 33, tends to approach the axis of pin 26. At the same time, support 40 rocks about its fixed pin 41 maintaining said roller 38 in contact with the rim of cam 24'.

Due to the composition of the pressure of spring 33, as transmitted by the portion 34' of stem 34, with the centripetal reaction of support 40, a force is provided as applied to the rim of cam 24 which, with an arm substantially equivalent to the radius of said cam, imparts to the equilizer (and therethrough to the moving element of the hinge) a moment designed to lock and to retain the hinge at a locked condition.

When the door is shut, the hinge being at the position in FIG. 17, desiring to re-open the door and the hinges supporting it therewith, said equalizer 24 presses with its cam 24 against roller 38; this pressure, combining with the centripetal reaction of said rocking support 40 provides, as a resultant, a force which compresses said spring 39, storing therein the spring potential energy which, except the unavoidable but anyhow very slight friction losses, will be given back on the next closing.

After a very short opening are, which may be pre determined as desired by suitably setting the mutual position of the cam roller, said roller 38 will now bear on the constant radius contour of cam 24 and, whole equalizer 24 continues to rotate about its pin 26, follows the further opening of the hinge without any work exchange between the spring system and the kinematic system, so that the door will freely rotate as if no closing device were provided. On the contrary, the pressure of the spring system, while not urging the door either to its closed position or to its open position, performs an advantageous effect of automatic restoring for the clearances, unavoidably present in the several pivotings, rendering the hinge behaviour smoother and more noiseless.

It should be noted that the interposition of sleeves or bushes of antifriction material at pivoting locations provides for a reduction in frictions, while allowing to take up the unavoidable clearances of said pivotings, owing to the fitting features of such materials.

Finally, the features of the present invention are then a further substantial progress in this art.

What is claimed is:

1. An articulated invisible hinge for a door comprising a stationary hinge element to be secured .to the internal surface of a stationary member adjacent the door, said stationary hinge element having the form of an elongated channel closed at one end and having fixed thereto a pair of spaced transverse pivots at the opposite end thereof, a swingable hinge element to be secured in a cavity of the door to be opened and closed, said swingable hinge element having fixed thereto a second pair of spaced transverse pivots, a pair of arch-shaped spacing links interconnecting one pivot of the first pair to one pivot of the second pair, the innermost spacing link being provided with an extension beyond the stationary pivot which acts as a cam surface, a guide located in the closed end of the stationary hinge element, a shaft slidable in said guide and having an enlarged terminal portion the leading surface of which forms a seat, an elastic compressible means positioned on said shaft between the enlarged terminal portion thereof and the closed end of the stationary hinge element, an oscillating member mounted in said stationary hinge element substantially perpendicular to said shaft, a roller pivotally mounted in the free end of said oscillating member and positioned UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,362,042 1/1968 Salice 16163 3,313,063 4/1967 Patin 16-163 2,752,627 4/1956 Carlson 16185H 2,743,476 5/1956 Turner 16-163X 2,035,823 3/1936 Moore 16-185H FOREIGN PATENTS 1,550,478 11/1968 France 16l63 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner 20 P. A. ASCHENBRENNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 1618O 

